WIRRAL council has said work to repair all 27,000 of its street lights will begin within weeks.

With the planned £10m investment out to tender, the plans to replace all of the borough’s lamps with more efficient LEDs will start soon after the contract has been awarded.

The council said it expected that to mean work beginning either this month or next, and has called it a “big job that will bring big benefits”.

The local authority said it would help save “up to £700,000 annually in energy costs and carbon tax” once completed.

Cllr Stuart Whittingham, cabinet member for highways, said: “This investment is fantastic news for every Wirral resident.

“It brings benefits which are almost immeasurable. It is also much better for the environment, with the new lights providing more light while using less power.”

He said the news had “already been well received by residents”, with the light replacement investment coming from a £4.6m interest-free loan from government-funded SALIX.

Cllr Whittingham added: “It is a huge commitment and one which I know residents will welcome.”

The council said the investment is on top of works that have been in progress since Autumn 2017, and by the end of November 2018 £1m had been spent on replacing expired lamp columns and defective lanterns.

Replacing existing lights will result in annual savings on maintenance too, through long term warranties, the authority added.

For more information or to report a problem about street lights, visit wirral.gov.uk/streetlights.